We like it when an automaker builds something unexpected, or different enough from the competition to give shoppers something to think about.
In that vein, the all-new 2023 Toyota Crown (an old name reborn, if it sounds familiar) is hard to explain. That’s delightful, as it isn’t exactly like everything else.
The Crown is part sedan, part crossover. It features four doors and a trunk but the higher ride height and seating position of an SUV. It’s available with a choice of two hybrid drivetrains. One is tuned for maximum efficiency. The other offers a little more power and borders on fun.
Our Micah Muzio got the chance to test both versions. He reports that it has many of the virtues of the recently discontinued Toyota Avalon full-size sedan, but its “taller stance makes it easier to get into and out of than a sedan where you have to sink down into it or an SUV where you have to climb up.”
There’s a definite difference between the two powertrains, Micah says, and he found a few minor annoyances that might scratch it from some shoppers’ lists. But overall, it’s a solid choice for “folks looking for something a little more efficient and a little livelier than an SUV.”
See the video for details.
